Classes were canceled and a Santa Cruz County sheriff's substation was damaged in an early Monday morning fire that authorities are deeming as suspicious.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Christopher Shearer said his department would be helping CalFire investigators figure out what started the 2-alarm fire at Loma Prieta School at 23800 Summit Road on the Santa Cruz/Los Gatos border shortly after midnight.
The fire also affected the school gym and community center, shown in photos tweeted out by CalFire. All three share the same campus.
Cal Fire firefighter Jake Hess said it's too early to tell what caused the blaze, but that it does seem suspicious at this point.
As a result, the two-school Loma Prieta Joint Union School District, which also includes CT English Middle School, closed for the day. About 500 students attend school in the district. When the sun came up, staff came to console and hug each other.
The sheriff’s substation is a service center that deputies use to write up reports or conduct business without having to drive all the way to Santa Cruz, Shearer said. He said there was “significant damage” to the building.
